Someone just cashed a cheque I wrote seven years on

System

The date on a cheque is simply the issue date.

Cheques go 'stale' after six years, but can still be deposited at the discretion of the bank.

He's taken the chance that both of you still have the same accounts.
If you both owe him the money, what is the issue?

grumbler

Heng_Leng wrote: »

If you both owe him the money, what is the issue?

The issue is that even for card payments there is 6-months's cut-off period.
Can you imagine people running their finances with cheques valid indefinitely?

I would spend money on getting a copy of the cheque and report fraud if it's really 2010 changed to 2016 - simply to teach the guy a lesson.

Keep_pedalling

grumbler wrote: »

The issue is that even for card payments there is 6-months's cut-off period.
Can you imagine people running their finances with cheques valid indefinitely?

I would spend money on getting a copy of the cheque and report fraud if it's really 2010 changed to 2016 - simply to teach the guy a lesson.

The date was not changed, the bank told the OP it was dated 2010. Don't waste any more time on it there was no fraud involved.

martinsurrey

grumbler wrote: »

Can you imagine people running their finances with cheques valid indefinitely?

Yes, I can, you are supposed to cancel any unpresented cheques you no longer want to be valid, we do it often at work.

The OP signed it, the OP gave it to him, the OP didnt cancel it, If the OP doesn't think the debt was existing (if he settled it in another way), he has to take his own legal action (money claim online if its only a small amount).

The bank however has done nothing wrong.

grumbler

Why do I have to pay for something that isn't my fault?

And I have never said that bank has done anything wrong. What I implied was that the system was wrong. Pretty often we just get used to something and don't see obvious flaws that need correction. I hope this system dies altogether as changes can take centuries in UK.

Kernel_Sanders

badger09 wrote: »

I think changing the 0 to a 6 is a possible explanation, but how on earth would opening an account in OP's name help?

Whoops, apologies; I meant in the flatmate's name.

Norscbu

Perhaps he knew he was going to file bankruptcy in the near future back then so did not want to risk losing it, so put it by and has either tried to be very clever or had just forgotten about it till now. Just an idea!

octopusinkink

I complained to several different departments and was eventually refunded in full by one sympathetic employee who made me agree to a disclaimer that the bank had technically not made an error as cheques under £1000 aren't checked by humans and are still valid for a long time, but agreed seven years was pretty crazy. I think the guy got his money but I didn't lose out in the end so... win win? I had the rest of the book of cheques cancelled in case he'd hoarded any others.

System

grumbler wrote: »

The issue is that even for card payments there is 6-months's cut-off period.
Can you imagine people running their finances with cheques valid indefinitely?

I would spend money on getting a copy of the cheque and report fraud if it's really 2010 changed to 2016 - simply to teach the guy a lesson.

There is not a 6 month cut off for card payments, they are simply not guaranteed after that time. As the underlying debt still exists, most card issuers won't intervene if the account has funds.

Also, the OP paid with a cheque when funds transfers/cash were both options.

Grumbler by name and nature

grumbler

Heng_Leng wrote: »

There is not a 6 month cut off for card payments, they are simply not guaranteed after that time.

Incorrect. They have no right to take money and if they do it can be claimed back under chargeback rules

As the underlying debt still exists, most card issuers won't intervene if the account has funds.

I don't see any fundamental difference between cheques and card transactions. However, the rules are different without any good reason.

Also, the OP paid with a cheque when funds transfers/cash were both options.

OOT. The point was that the cheque system was flawed. And sometimes it's the only option. At least was in the past, when I was using cheques to pay.

Grumbler by name and nature

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